EP4020309A1

EP4020309A1 - Fingerprint apparatus, and electronic device and method for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: EP4020309A1
Application number: EP20858226.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Qi CAI; Cong FAN; Jiao Lin; Xu Peng
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-30
Filing date: 2020-08-03
Publication date: 2022-06-29
Also published as: EP4020309A4; CN110674699A; WO2021036703A1

Abstract

Embodiments of this application provide a fingerprint apparatus, an electronic device, and a manufacturing method thereof, and relate to the field of electronic device technologies. An installation position is flexible, and therefore a problem that a screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided. The fingerprint apparatus includes a fingerprint image sensor and a collimator located on a side of the fingerprint image sensor. A first microlens group is disposed on a side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor, the first microlens group includes at least one first microlens unit, the first microlens unit is disposed corresponding to a collimator hole of the collimator, and the first microlens unit is configured to converge fingerprint image light information above the display screen to the collimator hole of the collimator. The fingerprint apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application may be used for fingerprint recognition.

Description

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910816948.7, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on August 30, 2019 and entitled "FINGERPRINT APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of electronic device technologies, and in particular, to a fingerprint apparatus, an electronic device, and a manufacturing method thereof.

BACKGROUND

With development of science and technology, an electronic device has been basically popularized in all aspects of people's living environment. To make it more convenient for the electronic device to serve people, information exchange between the electronic device and people is crucial. An electronic device such as a mobile phone is used as an example. Information exchange between the mobile phone and a human mainly includes keyboard pressing, screen touching, wireless communication, voice input, facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, and the like. Fingerprint recognition has been widely used in operations such as unlocking and payment in the mobile phone for uniqueness and convenience.
The mobile phone is used as an example. An existing fingerprint recognition system is usually disposed at a position at which a front physical button is located, disposed on a back, and disposed below a display screen. Nowadays, full-screen display is an important development direction and a technical selling point for future electronic devices such as a mobile phone, and an in-screen fingerprint recognition technology corresponding to full-screen display can draw more attention for user-friendliness. Currently, common in-screen fingerprint recognition technologies include an optical fingerprint recognition technology, a capacitive fingerprint recognition technology, an ultrasonic fingerprint recognition technology, and the like. To improve competitiveness of electronic devices such as the mobile phone, impact of a fingerprint apparatus on architecture design of the electronic devices such as the mobile phone needs to be minimized, and more attention needs to be paid on impact of a location of the fingerprint apparatus in the electronic device and a thickness and an area of the fingerprint apparatus on the architecture design. An existing fingerprint apparatus cannot receive a fingerprint image at a relatively long distance, and therefore usually needs to be installed through attachment to a screen. It is relatively difficult to implement installation through attachment to the screen, and there is a problem that the display screen is scrapped due to poor attachment.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this application provide a fingerprint apparatus, an electronic device, and a manufacturing method thereof. An installation position is flexible, and therefore a problem that a screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the following technical solutions are used in the embodiments of this application.
According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a fingerprint apparatus, including a fingerprint image sensor and a collimator located on a side of the fingerprint image sensor. A first microlens group is disposed on a side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor. The first microlens group includes at least one first microlens unit. The first microlens unit is disposed corresponding to a collimator hole of the collimator. The first microlens unit is configured to converge light on the side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor to the collimator hole of the collimator.
The fingerprint apparatus provided in this embodiment of this application includes the fingerprint image sensor configured to receive fingerprint information and the collimator located on the side of the fingerprint image sensor. The first microlens group is disposed on the side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor. The first microlens group includes at least one first microlens unit. The first microlens unit is disposed corresponding to the collimator hole of the collimator. The first microlens unit may converge the light on the side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor to the collimator hole of the collimator. In this way, when the fingerprint apparatus is relatively far away from a display screen, fingerprint image light information can still be smoothly transmitted to the fingerprint image sensor, thereby removing a limitation that the fingerprint apparatus can be installed only through attachment to the screen. In addition, the fingerprint apparatus may be installed at another position without being attached to the screen. An installation position is flexible, and therefore a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
With reference to the first aspect, in a first optional implementation of the first aspect, a second microlens group is further disposed between the collimator and the fingerprint image sensor. The second microlens group includes at least one second microlens unit. The second microlens unit is disposed corresponding to the collimator hole of the collimator. The second microlens unit is configured to converge light that passes through the collimator hole of the collimator to the fingerprint image sensor. The first microlens group may converge light that cannot be incident into the collimator hole or that cannot be transmitted in a straight line to the collimator hole, thereby increasing light transmittance. To implement better transmission and imaging of light emitted from the collimator hole, the second microlens group may be further disposed on the other side of the collimator hole. The second microlens group may converge the light that passes through the collimator hole to the fingerprint image sensor, thereby improving a fingerprint recognition effect.
With reference to the first aspect and the first optional implementation of the first aspect, in a second optional implementation of the first aspect, there are a plurality of first microlens units, the collimator includes a plurality of collimator holes, and the plurality of first microlens units are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of collimator holes of the collimator. The collimator includes a plurality of collimator holes. To increase light transmittance of each collimator hole, there may be a plurality of first microlens units, and the plurality of first microlens units are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the collimator holes.
With reference to the second optional implementation of the first aspect, in a third optional implementation of the first aspect, there are a plurality of second microlens units, the collimator includes a plurality of collimator holes, and the plurality of second microlens units are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of collimator holes of the collimator. Similarly, to further converge light that passes through each collimator hole to the fingerprint image sensor, the plurality of second microlens units are further disposed in a one-to-one correspondence below the plurality of collimator holes of the collimator.
With reference to any one of the first aspect and the first to the third optional implementations of the first aspect, in a fourth optional implementation of the first aspect, the first microlens unit is a convex lens. The first microlens unit may be a convex lens with a light convergence function, and a specific shape and structure of the convex lens may be flexibly adjusted based on an actual optical path requirement and an assembly requirement. For example, a side, of the convex lens, that faces the collimator hole is relatively flat to facilitate assembly.
With reference to the first or the third optional implementation of the first aspect, in a fifth optional implementation of the first aspect, the second microlens unit is a convex lens. The second microlens unit may be a convex lens with a light convergence function, and a specific shape and structure of the convex lens may be flexibly adjusted based on an actual optical path requirement and an assembly requirement. For example, a side, of the convex lens, that faces the collimator hole is relatively flat to facilitate assembly.
With reference to any one of the first aspect and the first to the fifth optional implementations of the first aspect, in a sixth optional implementation of the first aspect, the fingerprint apparatus further includes a flexible circuit board configured to transmit a current and a signal. The fingerprint image sensor is fastened on the flexible circuit board.
According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application provides an electronic device, including a display screen. The fingerprint apparatus according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions is disposed at an interval below the display screen.
The electronic device provided in this embodiment of this application includes the display screen. The fingerprint apparatus according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions is disposed at an interval below the display screen, and therefore the fingerprint apparatus is not attached to the display screen. In this way, a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
With reference to the second aspect, in a first optional implementation of the second aspect, a gap between the display screen and the fingerprint apparatus is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.
With reference to the second aspect and the first optional implementation of the second aspect, in a second optional implementation of the second aspect, the electronic device includes a middle frame located below the display screen. The fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame.
With reference to the second optional implementation of the second aspect, in a third optional implementation of the second aspect, the fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame through attachment and bonding.
With reference to the second or the third optional implementation of the second aspect, in a fourth optional implementation of the second aspect, a lower surface of the middle frame is lower than a lower surface of the fingerprint apparatus.
With reference to any one of the second to the fourth optional implementations of the second aspect, in a fifth optional implementation of the second aspect, an upper surface of the middle frame is higher than an upper surface of the fingerprint apparatus.
With reference to any one of the second to the fifth optional implementations of the second aspect, in a sixth optional implementation of the second aspect, a groove is disposed downward at a position, on the upper surface of the middle frame, corresponding to the fingerprint apparatus, and the fingerprint apparatus is fastened in the groove.
With reference to the sixth optional implementation of the second aspect, in a seventh optional implementation of the second aspect, the middle frame includes a middle frame body and a middle frame support member, the groove is disposed on the middle frame support member, a mounting hole is disposed on the middle frame body, and the middle frame support member is disposed in the mounting hole.
With reference to the seventh optional implementation of the second aspect, in an eighth optional implementation of the second aspect, the mounting hole is a stepped hole disposed downward along the middle frame body, and an outer profile of a lower surface of the middle frame support member matches the stepped hole.
With reference to any one of the second to the eighth optional implementations of the second aspect, in a ninth optional implementation of the second aspect, the electronic device includes a battery module disposed below the middle frame. There are a battery region and a non-battery region below the middle frame. The battery module is disposed in the battery region, and the fingerprint apparatus is located above the battery region, or the fingerprint apparatus is located above the non-battery region.
With reference to any one of the sixth to the eighth optional implementations of the second aspect, in a tenth optional implementation of the second aspect, a bottom surface of the fingerprint apparatus is fastened to a bottom surface of the groove through attachment, and there is an avoidance gap between a side wall of the fingerprint apparatus and a side wall of the groove.
With reference to the tenth optional implementation of the second aspect, in an eleventh optional implementation of the second aspect, the avoidance gap is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.
With reference to the sixth optional implementation of the second aspect, in a twelfth optional implementation of the second aspect, the middle frame includes the middle frame body and the middle frame support member, the groove is disposed on the middle frame support member, an assembly slot is disposed on the middle frame body, and the middle frame support member is disposed in the assembly slot. To facilitate installation of the fingerprint apparatus, the middle frame may further include the middle frame body and the middle frame support member. The fingerprint apparatus is fastened on the middle frame support member, and is installed in the assembly slot by using the middle frame support member, so as to fasten the fingerprint apparatus on the middle frame. The middle frame body and the middle frame support member may fit with each other in a manner of using the mounting hole in the foregoing solution. Certainly, there may be another manner based on a space requirement and a structural requirement. For example, a manner of slotting the middle frame body is used. In comparison, the manner of using the mounting hole helps reduce a thickness of the electronic device, and the slotting manner yields higher structural strength of the middle frame body.
According to a third aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a manufacturing method. The method is used to manufacture the electronic device according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions, and includes the following steps:

fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame; and
fastening the display screen to the middle frame, where the display screen is located above the fingerprint apparatus.

The manufacturing method provided in this embodiment of this application is used to manufacture the electronic device according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions. The fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame, and therefore a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
With reference to the third aspect, in a first optional implementation of the third aspect, the electronic device includes a battery module disposed below the middle frame, there are a battery region and a non-battery region below the middle frame, the battery module is disposed in the battery region, and the fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame includes:
installing the fingerprint apparatus above the battery region or the non-battery region.
With reference to the third aspect and the first optional implementation of the third aspect, in a second optional implementation of the third aspect, the fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame, the middle frame includes a middle frame body and a middle frame support member, and the fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame includes:

separately and sequentially assembling and fastening the middle frame body, the middle frame support member, and the fingerprint apparatus; or
assembling the middle frame support member and the fingerprint apparatus as a whole, and then fastening the middle frame body to the middle frame support member; or
assembling the middle frame body and the middle frame support member as a whole, and then fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic stacking diagram of an architecture of an existing electronic device;
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first fingerprint apparatus in the prior art;
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram in which a first fingerprint apparatus in the prior art is installed in an electronic device;
FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a second fingerprint apparatus in the prior art;
FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram in which a second fingerprint apparatus in the prior art is installed in an electronic device;
FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a fingerprint apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of detecting fingerprint information by a fingerprint apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a collimator of a fingerprint apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram in which no first microlens unit is disposed for a collimator hole of a fingerprint apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram in which a first microlens unit is disposed for a collimator hole of a fingerprint apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram in which a second microlens unit is disposed in a fingerprint apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram in which a fingerprint apparatus includes a flexible circuit board according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; and
FIG. 14 is an exploded diagram in which a display screen, a fingerprint apparatus, and a middle frame of an electronic device are installed through fitting according to an embodiment of this application.

Reference numerals:
01: Screen; 02: Fastening frame; 03: Battery region; 04: Non-battery region; 05: Fingerprint apparatus; 051: Image sensor; 052: Collimation component; 053: Lens structure; 100: Fingerprint apparatus; 101: Fingerprint image sensor; 102: Collimator; 1021: Collimator hole; 103: First microlens group; 1031: First microlens unit; 104: Second microlens group; 1041: Second microlens unit; 105: Flexible circuit board; 200: Display screen; 300: Middle frame; 301: Groove; 302: Middle frame body; 303: Middle frame support member; 304: Mounting hole; 400: Battery module; 500: Battery region; and 600: Non-battery region.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To facilitate understanding of the solutions, related structure stacking related to installation of a fingerprint apparatus in an electronic device is briefly described herein. FIG. 1 is a schematic stacking diagram of a typical architecture of an existing electronic device such as a mobile phone. The architecture includes a screen 01 and a fastening frame 02. Space below the fastening frame 02 may be divided into a battery region 03 and a non-battery region 04 based on different disposed parts. The battery region 03 is used to accommodate a power supply. The non-battery region 04 is used to accommodate other optional electronic elements such as a circuit board, a speaker box, a motor, and a camera. Based on the architecture, a fingerprint apparatus is placed below the screen 01. The fingerprint apparatus may be fastened to the screen 01 or the fastening frame 02. In addition, the fingerprint apparatus may be located above the battery region 03 or the non-battery region 04. Due to a limitation of a structure or the prior art, in the foregoing solution of positions for disposing the fingerprint apparatus, there is a possibility that the fingerprint apparatus cannot be disposed at some of the positions, or there may be some problems after implementation. For example, when the fingerprint apparatus is attached to the screen 01 for assembly, there is a problem of relatively high costs due to poor attachment, and a limited thickness of the fingerprint apparatus affects a battery capacity or results in an increase in a thickness of the entire device. When the fingerprint apparatus is relatively thick, the fingerprint apparatus can be disposed only above the non-battery region 04. However, a requirement for a large-area in-screen fingerprint cannot be met due to a limited area of the non-battery region 04. In a thickness direction of the electronic device, a direction from the fastening frame to the screen is an upward direction, and a direction from the screen to the fastening frame is a downward direction. The fingerprint apparatus may be located above the battery region 03. It may be understood that the fingerprint apparatus is located above the battery region in the thickness direction of the electronic device, and an orthographic projection of the fingerprint apparatus on the fastening frame is located in a region of an orthographic projection of the battery region on the fastening frame. Correspondingly, the fingerprint apparatus may be located above the non-battery region 04. It may be understood that the fingerprint apparatus is located above the non-battery region in the thickness direction of the electronic device, and an orthographic projection of the fingerprint apparatus on the fastening frame is located in a region of an orthographic projection of the battery region on the fastening frame.
For example, there are usually the following two implementations for an in-screen fingerprint in the prior art: FIG. 2 shows an internal structure of a first fingerprint apparatus 05 in the prior art. The fingerprint apparatus 05 is installed below a screen 01, and includes an image sensor 051 and a collimation component 052. When a human finger presses the screen 01, fingerprint information light of the finger passes through the screen 01, is integrated by the collimation component 052, and then is transmitted to the image sensor 051. The image sensor 051 may recognize fingerprint information. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram in which the fingerprint apparatus 05 in this solution is installed in an electronic device architecture. Only the collimation component 052 with a relatively small size is disposed in the fingerprint apparatus 05 in this solution to fit with the image sensor 051, and therefore the fingerprint apparatus 05 is relatively thin, and may be installed in a battery region 03 or a non-battery region 04. However, in a solution of attaching the fingerprint apparatus 05 to the screen 01, there is a problem that the screen 01 is scrapped due to poor attachment. In addition, if the collimation component 052 of the fingerprint apparatus 05 in this solution is relatively far away from the screen 01, there is relatively low light transmittance, an optical fingerprint image is distorted, and recognition cannot be performed well. Consequently, fingerprint information cannot be normally collected, and normal operation is affected.
FIG. 4 shows an internal structure of a second fingerprint apparatus 05 in the prior art. The fingerprint apparatus 05 is installed below a screen 01, and includes an image sensor 051 and a lens structure 053 located between the image sensor 051 and the screen 01. When a human finger presses the screen 01, fingerprint information light of the finger passes through the screen 01, is focused by the lens structure 053 for reverse imaging, and then is transmitted to the image sensor 051. The image sensor 051 may recognize fingerprint information. FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram in which the fingerprint apparatus 05 in this solution is installed in an electronic device architecture. The lens structure 053 is disposed in the fingerprint apparatus 05 in this solution to fit with the image sensor 051, and therefore a specific distance is required for optical path propagation of the fingerprint apparatus 05 to ensure reverse imaging, that is, the fingerprint apparatus 05 is relatively thick. Therefore the fingerprint apparatus 05 can be installed only in a non-battery region 04.
An embodiment of this application provides a fingerprint apparatus 100. Referring to FIG. 6, the fingerprint apparatus 100 is disposed below a display screen 200 of an electronic device, and includes a fingerprint image sensor 101, and further includes a collimator 102 disposed between the fingerprint image sensor 101 and the display screen 200. A first microlens group 103 is disposed between the collimator 102 and the display screen 200. The first microlens group 103 includes at least one first microlens unit 1031. The first microlens unit 1031 corresponds to a collimator hole 1021 of the collimator 102, and is disposed above the collimator 102. The first microlens unit 1031 is configured to converge fingerprint image light information above the display screen 200 to the collimator hole 1021 of the collimator 102.
In the fingerprint apparatus 100 provided in this embodiment of this application, referring to FIG. 6, the first microlens group 103 is disposed on a side of the collimator 102 that is away from the fingerprint image sensor 101, the first microlens group 103 includes at least one first microlens unit 1031, and the first microlens unit 1031 is disposed corresponding to the collimator hole 1021 of the collimator 102. In this way, when the fingerprint apparatus 100 is relatively far away from the display screen 200, the fingerprint image light information can still be smoothly transmitted to the fingerprint image sensor 101, thereby removing a limitation that the fingerprint apparatus 100 can be installed only through attachment to the screen. In addition, the fingerprint apparatus 100 may be installed at another position without being attached to the screen. An installation position is flexible, and therefore a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided. In addition, a microlens structure with a relatively small size is used to integrate light, which is different from a reflection imaging solution of a convex lens with a relatively large size of a camera in the solution shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the entire fingerprint apparatus 100 is relatively thin, and may be flexibly installed at a plurality of positions in small space.
It should be noted that the collimator (collimator) may be made of a material such as a silicon material, glass fiber, or plastic. The collimator is disposed on a surface on a side of the fingerprint sensor, and may be used to block incident light at an angle, to a surface of the fingerprint sensor, that exceeds a specific angle threshold, to ensure that incident light perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to the surface of the fingerprint sensor is incident on the surface of the fingerprint sensor, so as to improve light utilization and reduce interference from stray light.
To clearly describe an effect of the fingerprint apparatus 100 provided in this embodiment of this application, referring to FIG. 7, when a finger presses the display screen 200, fingerprint light information is transmitted downward through the collimator hole 1021. A structure of the collimator hole 1021 disposed on the collimator 102 is shown in FIG. 8. For example, further referring to FIG. 7, the fingerprint light information includes light a and light b in the figure. The first microlens unit 1031 is disposed for a collimator hole 1021 to which the light a points, and no first microlens unit 1031 is disposed for a collimator hole 1021 to which the light b points. In this case, the light a is transmitted more efficiently than the light b. Specifically, referring to FIG. 9, when no first microlens unit 1031 is disposed above the collimator hole 1021, in four beams of light e, f, g, and h shown in the figure, light in a range of f and g can be smoothly transmitted from one side of the collimator hole 1021 to the other side, and light outside the range of f and g, for example, the light e and h, cannot be correctly transmitted from one side of the collimator hole 1021 to the other side. In comparison with FIG. 9, referring to FIG. 10, when the first microlens unit 1031 is disposed corresponding to the collimator hole 1021, light (including light f and g) in a range of light e and h is refracted and integrated by the first microlens unit 1031, and can be smoothly transmitted from one side of the collimator hole 1021 to the other side. It may be clearly learned that in comparison with a fingerprint apparatus in which no first microlens unit 1031 is disposed, in the fingerprint apparatus 100 in which the first microlens unit 1031 is disposed, light transmittance is clearly improved. Therefore, when the fingerprint apparatus 100 provided in this embodiment of this application is relatively far away from the display screen 200, the fingerprint apparatus 100 can still normally recognize fingerprint information, and may not need to be attached to the display screen 200 for installation in this case. An installation position is flexible, and therefore a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
To implement better transmission and imaging of light emitted from the collimator hole 1021, a second microlens group 104 may be further disposed between the collimator hole 1021 and the fingerprint image sensor 101. As shown in FIG. 11, the second microlens group 104 includes at least one second microlens unit 1041. The second microlens unit 1041 is disposed corresponding to the collimator hole 1021 of the collimator 102. The second microlens unit 1041 is configured to converge light that passes through the collimator hole 1021 of the collimator 102 to the fingerprint image sensor 101. The first microlens group 103 may converge light that cannot be incident into the collimator hole 1021 or that cannot be transmitted in a straight line into the collimator hole 1021, thereby increasing light transmittance. The second microlens group 104 may converge the light that passes through the collimator hole 1021 to the fingerprint image sensor 101, thereby improving a fingerprint recognition effect.
Referring to FIG. 8, the collimator 102 includes a plurality of collimator holes 1021. To increase light transmittance of each collimator hole 1021, there may be a plurality of first microlens units 1031. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, there are a plurality of first microlens units 1031, and the plurality of first microlens units 1031 are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of collimator holes 1021 of the collimator 102.
Similarly, to further converge fingerprint image light information that passes through each collimator hole 1021 to the fingerprint image sensor, there may be a plurality of second microlens units 1041. As shown in FIG. 11, there are a plurality of second microlens units 1041, and the plurality of second microlens units 1041 are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of collimator holes 1021 of the collimator 102.
The first microlens unit 1031 may be a convex lens with a light convergence function, and a specific shape and structure of the convex lens may be flexibly adjusted based on an actual optical path requirement and an assembly requirement. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a side, of the convex lens, that faces the collimator hole is relatively flat to facilitate assembly.
Similarly, the second microlens unit 1041 is a convex lens. The second microlens unit 1041 may be a convex lens with a light convergence function, and a specific shape and structure of the convex lens may be flexibly adjusted based on an actual optical path requirement and an assembly requirement. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a side, of the convex lens, that faces the collimator hole is relatively flat to facilitate assembly.
It should be noted that referring to FIG. 12, the convex lenses, namely, the first microlens unit 1031 and the second microlens unit 1041 herein, are disposed corresponding to the collimator hole 1021 of the collimator 102, and are different from the lens structure 053 in the prior art shown in FIG. 4. In comparison with the lens structure 053 for implementing reverse imaging through light focusing in FIG. 4, the first microlens unit 1031 and the second microlens unit 1041 are smaller in size, and are used only to integrate light. Therefore, less impact is exerted on a thickness of the entire fingerprint apparatus 100.
To supply power and transmit a signal to the fingerprint image sensor 101, a corresponding connection structure circuit is usually required, for example, a wire, a signal cable, or a printed circuit board. To facilitate installation and assembly, as shown in FIG. 12, the fingerprint apparatus 100 further includes a flexible circuit board 105 configured to transmit a current and a signal. The fingerprint image sensor 101 is fastened on the flexible circuit board 105. The flexible circuit board 105 may have a relatively large deformation rate, to facilitate assembly on the premise of ensuring power supply and signal transmission.
According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application further provides an electronic device. As shown in FIG. 13, the electronic device includes a display screen 200. The fingerprint apparatus 100 according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions is disposed at an interval below the display screen 200.
As shown in FIG. 13, the electronic device provided in this embodiment of this application includes the display screen 200. The fingerprint apparatus 100 according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions is disposed at an interval below the display screen 200, and therefore the fingerprint apparatus 100 is not attached to the display screen 200. In this way, a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
To prevent the fingerprint apparatus 100 from coming into contact with the display screen 200 to damage the display screen 200, the fingerprint apparatus 100 and the display screen 200 are usually disposed at an interval during assembly and installation. After testing and calculation, a gap between the display screen 200 and the fingerprint apparatus 100 may be greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.
A corresponding installation support structure such as a middle frame is usually required for fastening the display screen 200 and a plurality of other parts of the electronic device. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the electronic device in this embodiment of this application includes a middle frame 300 located below the display screen 200. The fingerprint apparatus 100 may be fastened to the middle frame 300.
To facilitate fastening of the fingerprint apparatus 100 to the middle frame 300, the fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened to the middle frame 300 through attachment and bonding.
It should be noted that in the electronic device in this embodiment of this application, for ease of description, based on a use habit of the electronic device, the display screen 200 is usually located in an upward direction, to facilitate operation for a user. Therefore, two directions, namely, the upward direction and a downward direction, are determined. Specifically, referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, in a thickness direction of the electronic device, a direction from the middle frame 300 to the display screen 200 is the upward direction, and a direction from the display screen 200 to the middle frame 300 is the downward direction. It may be understood that the display screen 200 includes a light emitting surface and a backlight surface. The light emitting surface may display an image, and the backlight surface is opposite to the light emitting surface. A side close to the backlight surface is below the display screen.
The fingerprint apparatus 100 may be relatively thin, and therefore may be disposed above a battery region or a non-battery region of the electronic device. When the fingerprint apparatus 100 is located above the battery region of the electronic device, if a lower surface of the fingerprint apparatus 100 is lower than a lower surface of the middle frame 300, a battery may be punctured, resulting in a serious consequence of burning the entire device. Therefore, to prevent the fingerprint apparatus 100 from puncturing the battery, referring to FIG. 13, optionally, the lower surface of the middle frame 300 is lower than the lower surface of the fingerprint apparatus 100. Certainly, if a process error can be ensured, the lower surface of the middle frame 300 may be coplanar with the lower surface of the fingerprint apparatus 100.
The fingerprint apparatus 100 and the display screen 200 are disposed at an interval. In addition, during assembly of the display screen 200 and the middle frame 300, to prevent the middle frame 300 from squeezing a display region of the display screen 200, a side edge of the middle frame 300 or another intermediate structure (for example, a plastic frame) is usually connected to a side edge of the display screen 200, to fasten the display screen 200. Therefore, a specific safety gap also needs to be ensured between the middle frame 300 and the display region of the display screen 200. Optionally, the gap is also greater than or equal to 0.1 mm. The fingerprint apparatus 100 is smaller in size relative to the middle frame 300, and is installed on the middle frame 300, and then the middle frame 300 is assembled with the display screen 200. In this way, it is not easy to control the gap between the fingerprint apparatus 100 and the display screen 200. Therefore, this can be easily implemented by using a distance between the middle frame 300 and the display screen 200 as a reference standard during installation. On this basis, as shown in FIG. 13, provided that it is ensured that an upper surface of the middle frame 300 is higher than an upper surface of the fingerprint apparatus 100, it can be ensured, by considering only the distance between the middle frame 300 and the display screen 200 during installation, that there is a sufficient gap between the display screen 200 and each of the middle frame 300 and the fingerprint apparatus 100.As shown in FIG. 13, to reduce a thickness of the entire electronic device, a groove 301 is disposed downward at a position, on the upper surface of the middle frame 300, corresponding to the fingerprint apparatus 100. The fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened in the groove 301.
Assembly of a plurality of electrical elements needs to be considered in the middle frame 300, and therefore a plurality of structures need to be considered in structure design and layout of the middle frame 300. To facilitate manufacturing of the middle frame 300, some installation positions are usually reserved, and then adapted installation parts are manufactured separately to install the electrical elements. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the middle frame 300 includes a middle frame body 302 and a middle frame support member 303. The groove 301 is disposed on the middle frame support member 303. A mounting hole 304 is disposed on the middle frame body 302. The middle frame support member 303 is disposed in the mounting hole 304.
To prevent the middle frame support member 303 from falling from the mounting hole 304, as shown in FIG. 13, the mounting hole 304 is a stepped hole disposed downward along the middle frame body 302, and an outer profile of a lower surface of the middle frame support member 303 matches the stepped hole. Fitting with the stepped hole may play a limiting role to prevent the middle frame support member 303 from falling from the mounting hole 304.
As shown in FIG. 13, the electronic device in this embodiment of this application includes a battery module 400 disposed below the middle frame 300. There are a battery region 500 and a non-battery region 600 below the middle frame 300. The battery module 400 is disposed in the battery region 500. The fingerprint apparatus 100 is located above the battery region 500, or the fingerprint apparatus 100 is located above the non-battery region 600, or the fingerprint apparatus 100 is located above the battery region 500 and the non-battery region.
That the fingerprint apparatus is disposed above the battery region 500 may be understood as follows: The fingerprint apparatus is located above the non-battery region in the thickness direction of the electronic device, and an orthographic projection of the fingerprint apparatus on the middle frame 300 is located in a region of an orthographic projection of the battery region 500 on the middle frame 300. Correspondingly, that the fingerprint apparatus is disposed above the non-battery region 600 may be understood as follows: The fingerprint apparatus is located above the non-battery region in the thickness direction of the electronic device, and an orthographic projection of the fingerprint apparatus on the middle frame 300 is located in a region of an orthographic projection of the non-battery region 600 on the middle frame 300. Correspondingly, that the fingerprint apparatus is disposed above the battery region 500 and the non-battery region 600 may be understood as follows: The fingerprint apparatus is located above the battery region 500 and the non-battery region 600 in the thickness direction of the electronic device, and an orthographic projection of the fingerprint apparatus on the middle frame 300 is located in a region of an orthographic projection of the battery region on the middle frame 300 and a region of an orthographic projection of the non-battery region on the middle frame 300.
As shown in FIG. 13, a bottom surface of the fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened to a bottom surface of the groove 301 through attachment. To prevent a side wall of the groove 301 from damaging the fingerprint apparatus 100 in an installation process, there is an avoidance gap between a side wall of the fingerprint apparatus 100 and the side wall of the groove 301.
Optionally, the avoidance gap is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.
The middle frame body 302 and the middle frame support member 303 may fit with each other in a manner of using the mounting hole 304 in the foregoing solution. Certainly, there may be another manner based on a space requirement and a structural requirement. For example, a manner of slotting the middle frame body 302 is used. In the manner of slotting the middle frame body 302, the fingerprint apparatus 100 is located in a slot, that is, the middle frame body 302 is not penetrated through by the slot. For the middle frame body 302, there is a slotting manner for receiving a structure of the fingerprint apparatus 100. Specifically, the middle frame 300 includes the middle frame body 302 and the middle frame support member 303. The groove 301 is disposed on the middle frame support member 303, an assembly slot is disposed on the middle frame body 302, and the middle frame support member 303 is disposed in the assembly slot. Optionally, the middle frame body 302 may be punctured, and a peripheral wall of the fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened to a side wall of a hole through attachment. When a thickness of the middle frame body is the same as a thickness of the fingerprint apparatus 100, the thickness of the electronic device may be reduced.
It should be noted that the middle frame body 302 is usually made of an aluminum alloy material, and the middle frame support member 303 may be made of any one of an aluminum alloy material, a steel sheet, an FR4 resin material whose strength meets a requirement, or the like.
According to a third aspect, an embodiment of this application further provides a manufacturing method. The method is used to manufacture the electronic device according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions, and includes the following steps:

fastening a fingerprint apparatus 100 to a middle frame 300; and
fastening a display screen 200 to the middle frame 300, where the display screen 200 is located above the fingerprint apparatus 100.

The manufacturing method provided in this embodiment of this application is used to manufacture the electronic device according to any one of the foregoing technical solutions. The fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened to the middle frame 300, and therefore a problem that the screen is scrapped due to installation of the fingerprint apparatus through attachment to the screen can be avoided.
Referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, when the electronic device includes a battery module 400 disposed below the middle frame 300, there are a battery region 500 and a non-battery region 600 below the middle frame 300. The battery module 400 is disposed in the battery region 500. The fastening a fingerprint apparatus 100 to a middle frame 300 includes:

installing the fingerprint apparatus 100 above the battery region 500, or
installing the fingerprint apparatus 100 above the non-battery region 600, or
installing the fingerprint apparatus 100 above the battery region 500 and the non-battery region 600.

Referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened to the middle frame 300, and the middle frame 300 includes a middle frame body 302 and a middle frame support member 303. In this way, the fingerprint apparatus 100 may be fastened to the middle frame 300 in different assembly sequences.
The fastening a fingerprint apparatus 100 to a middle frame 300 includes:

separately and sequentially assembling and fastening the middle frame body 302, the middle frame support member 303, and the fingerprint apparatus 100; or
assembling the middle frame support member 303 and the fingerprint apparatus 100 as a whole, and then fastening the middle frame body 302 to the middle frame support member 303; or
assembling the middle frame body 302 and the middle frame support member 303, and then fastening the fingerprint apparatus 100 to the middle frame support member 303.

In the solution in which the middle frame body 302, the middle frame support member 303, and the fingerprint apparatus 100 are separately and sequentially assembled and fastened, the fingerprint apparatus 100, the middle frame support member 303, and the middle frame body 302 are independent of each other, and the fingerprint apparatus 100, the middle frame support member 303, and the middle frame body 302 need to be sequentially assembled. The middle frame support member 303 may be made of a same material as the middle frame body 303, for example, a stainless steel material. A specific shape may be formed through stamping or CNC (Computerized Numerical Control, computer numerical control) processing based on a process requirement. In this solution, the components are independent and easy to process, but there are many process and assembly steps.
In the solution in which the middle frame support member 303 and the fingerprint apparatus 100 are assembled as a whole, and then the middle frame body 302 is fastened to the middle frame support member 303, the fingerprint apparatus 100 and the middle frame support member 303 are combined as an integrated component. In this way, in a manufacturing process procedure, the fingerprint apparatus 100 and the middle frame support member 303 are first assembled into an integrated component, and then are directly assembled with the paired middle frame body 302. The middle frame support member 303 may be used as a steel stiffener of the fingerprint apparatus 100, and may be pressed with the fingerprint apparatus 100 to form an integrated component, and then the display screen 200 is assembled. In this solution, process and assembly steps are reduced, and module reliability is improved by using the middle frame support member 303.
In the solution in which the middle frame body 302 and the middle frame support member 303 are assembled as a whole, and then the fingerprint apparatus 100 is fastened to the middle frame support member 303, the middle frame support member 303 and the middle frame body 302 are combined as an integrated incoming material, the middle frame body 302 may be partially etched or stamped in a fingerprint attachment region to reduce a thickness, then the fingerprint apparatus 100 is directly attached to the integrated middle frame 300 for assembly, and finally the display screen 200 is assembled. In this solution, process and assembly steps are also reduced, but it is relatively difficult to process the middle frame 300.
In the descriptions of this specification, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in a proper manner in any one or more of the embodiments or examples.
Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of this application, but not for limiting this application. Although this application is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they may still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some technical features thereof, without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

A fingerprint apparatus, comprising a fingerprint image sensor and a collimator located on a side of the fingerprint image sensor, wherein a first microlens group is disposed on a side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor, the first microlens group comprises at least one first microlens unit, the first microlens unit is disposed corresponding to a collimator hole of the collimator, and the first microlens unit is configured to converge light on the side of the collimator that is away from the fingerprint image sensor to the collimator hole of the collimator.
The fingerprint apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second microlens group is further disposed between the collimator and the fingerprint image sensor, the second microlens group comprises at least one second microlens unit, the second microlens unit is disposed corresponding to the collimator hole of the collimator, and the second microlens unit is configured to converge light that passes through the collimator hole of the collimator to the fingerprint image sensor.
The fingerprint apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there are a plurality of first microlens units, the collimator comprises a plurality of collimator holes, and the plurality of first microlens units are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of collimator holes of the collimator.
The fingerprint apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of second microlens units, the collimator comprises a plurality of collimator holes, and the plurality of second microlens units are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of collimator holes of the collimator.
The fingerprint apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first microlens unit is a convex lens.
The fingerprint apparatus according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the second microlens unit is a convex lens.
The fingerprint apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a flexible circuit board configured to transmit a current and a signal, wherein the fingerprint image sensor is fastened on the flexible circuit board.
An electronic device, comprising a display screen, wherein the fingerprint apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is disposed at an interval below the display screen.
The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein a gap between the display screen and the fingerprint apparatus is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.
The electronic device according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a middle frame located below the display screen, wherein the fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame.
The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame through attachment and bonding.
The electronic device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a lower surface of the middle frame is lower than a lower surface of the fingerprint apparatus.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein an upper surface of the middle frame is higher than an upper surface of the fingerprint apparatus.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein a groove is disposed downward at a position, on the upper surface of the middle frame, corresponding to the fingerprint apparatus, and the fingerprint apparatus is fastened in the groove.
The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the middle frame comprises a middle frame body and a middle frame support member, the groove is disposed on the middle frame support member, a mounting hole is disposed on the middle frame body, and the middle frame support member is disposed in the mounting hole.
The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the mounting hole is a stepped hole disposed downward along the middle frame body, and an outer profile of a lower surface of the middle frame support member matches the stepped hole.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 10 to 15, comprising a battery module disposed below the middle frame, wherein there are a battery region and a non-battery region below the middle frame, the battery module is disposed in the battery region, and the fingerprint apparatus is located above the battery region, the fingerprint apparatus is located above the non-battery region, or the fingerprint apparatus is located above the battery region and the non-battery region.
A manufacturing method, used to manufacture the electronic device according to any one of claims 10 to 17, and comprising the following steps:
fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame; and

fastening the display screen to the middle frame, wherein the display screen is located above the fingerprint apparatus.
The manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises a battery module disposed below the middle frame, there are a battery region and a non-battery region below the middle frame, the battery module is disposed in the battery region, and the fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame comprises:
installing the fingerprint apparatus above the battery region; or

installing the fingerprint apparatus above the non-battery region; or

installing the fingerprint apparatus above the battery region and the non-battery region.
The manufacturing method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the fingerprint apparatus is fastened to the middle frame, the middle frame comprises a middle frame body and a middle frame support member, and the fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame comprises:
separately and sequentially assembling and fastening the middle frame body, the middle frame support member, and the fingerprint apparatus; or

assembling the middle frame support member and the fingerprint apparatus as a whole, and then fastening the middle frame body to the middle frame support member; or

assembling the middle frame body and the middle frame support member as a whole, and then fastening the fingerprint apparatus to the middle frame support member.